Jevoid Simmons’ New Book
See one of the paintings from Jevoid’s new book in Coco Design & Build Co.’s Window this February 2022
I met Jevoid Simmons recently after being introduced to him through Evanston Made [www.shopevanstonmade.org] by Lisa Degliantoni and can’t help but think that every resident of Evanston should know this man. He is one of us, he has lived in Evanston for over 40 years and he has a fascinating story to tell. He has written and illustrated his story in a recently published book; “Up From Down Home: The Journey North”. I did a quick video interviewing Jevoid in which he talks about the painting that is in Coco Design & Build Co.’s window this month which also appears in the book – very interesting! Take a look…
You can buy his book here: www.upfromdownhome.com and if you are interested in purchasing a print you can find them for sale here: www.sugarcreekfolkart.com.
If you would like to know more about Jevoid please read his bio –
Jevoid Simmons Bio
Jevoid Simmons is a 40-year resident of Evanston, IL. He and his life partner (wife) Dickelle Fonda are proud parents of Seth Simmons. Seth also resides in Evanston. Jevoid retired three years ago after a 35-year managerial career as a human resource professional. The last 17 years were spent with the Art Institute of Chicago where he served as Director of Employee Relations and Training for the School and Museum. Central to his work was policy development, conflict resolution, managerial effectiveness and diversity equity and inclusion.
Jevoid considers himself to be a work in progress. Embracing retirement, his mantra, is “I’m working to be the me I’m meant to be at this time in life”. In this life segment, a good deal of his time is devoted to making art. This has been a life-long love for him. Though he has worked in a number of artistic styles, he considers his current art making to be more in line with folk and primitive traditions. He paints and carves and has exhibited his work locally at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center; Evanston’s Noyes Cultural Art Center; Evanston Art Center; Garrett Theological Seminary (Northwestern University); The Art Institute of Chicago, Creative Coworking Gallery and 1100 Florence Gallery in Evanston.
Jevoid’s first book, “Up From Down Home, A Family’s Journey North”, was published June 2021. The book tells of his family’s migration out of rural Alabama in the early 1950s. Like so many, his family was part of the mass exodus of Black folks out of the South for survival and better opportunities.
Jevoid volunteers with new not for profit, Equity and Empowerment for Evanston Families (EEEF) with its summer camp for black and brown boys (grades 3-8). He conducts the art component for the camp. He also served on the Evanston Art Council’s Art Equity Subcommittee and worked with various working groups supporting the community.
His new book (Up From Down Home) can be purchased online at www.upfromdownhome.com. To view more of his work, go to www.sugarcreekfolkart.com.
Painting and Book Info
1404 Christie Street
1404 Christie Street in Davenport, Iowa, is the capstone of my family’s migration out of rural Alabama in the early 1950s. Our exit was a flight to escape Klan violence and Christie was the landing. My recently published book, “Up From Down Home; The Journey North,” includes this and sixteen other paintings supporting the book’s narrative.
This painting is multidimensional. It captures people and events over time. Every person and even the dog on the hill is an actual representation. Note the greetings taking place in front of the house; one from the porch and the other near stairs to the left. There’s a 20-year span between these events.
1404 Christie sits almost a half-mile from the Mississippi River. Our neighbor, one of the oldest in the area, shared that the property had been a stopping place for slaves who escaped the South and continued their Northward trek.
The house has remained in the family for almost 70 years. Willis Nathanial (Bill) and his wife Renee are its current owners/caretakers.
At Christie, there was joy, laughter and at times stinging tears. But most important, there was love in the home. And the story continues …
Contact Jevoid Simmons at sugarcreekfolkart@gmail.com, (847)648-0079
